# Patent

## Title
Process for the preparation of phosphitylation agents

## Abstract

A process for the preparation of a compound of formula R1—Y1—P(NR2R3)2 is provided. The process comprises reacting a compound of formula PX3 with a compound of formula HNR2R3 to form a compound of formula X—P(NR2R3)2; and reacting the compound of formula X—P(NR2R3)2 with a compound of formula R1—Y1—H in the presence of a hydrocarbon solvent to form the compound of formula R1—Y1—P(NR2R3)2. R1 represents a phosphorus protecting group; R2 and R3 each independently represent an alkyl, prefer-ably a C1-6alkyl, group, or R2 and R3 are joined, together with the N to which they are attached, to form a 5-7 membered ring; Y1 represents O or S, preferably O; and X represents a halogen, preferably Cl. The preferred solvent is toluene.

## Background
This application is a national phase 371 filing based on PCT/GB2003/005473, filed Dec. 16, 2003 and claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/433,788, filed Dec. 17, 2002.


The present invention concerns a process for the preparation of phosphitylation agents.
Synthetic oligonucleotides are important diagnostic tools for the detection of genetic and viral diseases. In addition, oligonucleotides and modified oligonucleotides are of interest as therapeutic candidates that inhibit gene expression or protein function. Large scale synthesis of oligonucleotides for use as therapeutic candidates has become increasingly important since FDA approval of an oligonucleotide analog for the treatment of cytomegalovirus (CMV), and several other oligonucleotide analogs are currently in clinical trials. Kilogram quantities of a purified oligonucleotide analog are needed for each clinical trial.
The principal method currently employed for the preparation of oligonucleotide is the phosphoramidite approach. The increasing demand for larger quantities of oligonucleotides has correspondingly increased demand for phosphoramidite compounds. Phosphoramidite compounds are commonly prepared by phosphitylation of a nucleoside with a phosphitylation agent in the presence of an activator. Accordingly, there has been a corresponding increase in demand for phosphitylation agents. Improved or alternative processes for the preparation of phosphitylation agents are therefore needed.
According to the present invention, there is provided a process for the preparation of a compound of formula R1—Y1—P(NR2R3)2 which comprises:
a) reacting a compound of formula PX3 with a compound of formula HNR2R3 to form a compound of formula X—P(NR2R3)2; and
b) reacting the compound of formula X—P(NR2R3)2 with a compound of formula R1—Y1—H in the presence of a solvent to form the compound of formula R1—Y1—P(NR2R3)2 wherein
R1 represents a phosphorus protecting group;
R2 and R3 each independently represent an alkyl, preferably a Cue alkyl, group, or R2 and R3 are joined, together with the N to which they are attached, to form a 5-7 membered ring;
Y1 represents O or S, preferably O; and
X represents a halogen, preferably Cl; characterised in that the solvent employed in reaction b) is a hydrocarbon solvent.
Phosphorus protecting groups represented by R1 are commonly cleavable phosphorus protecting groups employed in oligonucleotide synthesis, for example substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic groups, such as a methyl group, —CH2CH2—Si(CH3)2C6H5, —CH2CH2—S(O)2—CH2CH3, —CH2CH2—C6H4—NO2 and preferably a group of formula —CH2CH2CN; or substituted or unsubstituted aromatic groups, such as a phenyl or substituted phenyl, for example a 4-chlorophenyl, 2-chlorophenyl, 2-nitrophenyl or 4-nitrophenyl group.
Compounds of formula R1—Y1—H are preferably selected based on the nature of the compound it is desired to produce. An especially preferred compound of formula R1—Y1—H is 2-cyanoethanol.
In the compounds prepared by the process of the present invention, it is preferred that R2 and R3 are the same. It is particularly preferred that both R2 and R3 are —CH(CH3)2 groups. It is especially preferred that Y1 is O and R1 is —CH2CH2CN.
Examples of compounds which can be prepared by the process of the present invention include O-β-cyanoethyl-N,N,N′,N′-tetraisopropylphosphorodiamidite, (commonly known as “tetraphos”), O-β-cyanoethyl-N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylphosphorodiamidite, O-β-cyanoethyl-N,N,N′,N′-tetraethylphosphorodiamidite, bis (N,N-diisopropylamino)-2-methyltrifluoroacetylamino-ethoxyphosphine, bis (N,N-diisopropylamino)-2-diphenylmethylsilylethoxyphosphine and O-β-cyanoethyl-bis (N-morpholino) phosphorodiamidite.
Hydrocarbon solvents that can be employed in the process of the present invention include aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons. Examples of aliphatic hydrocarbons include pentane, hexane and petroleum ethers. Examples of aromatic hydrocarbons include benzene, toluene, xylene and mesitylene. Toluene is the most preferred solvent.
In many preferred embodiments, reaction a) takes place in the presence of the same solvent as reaction b), and most preferably in the presence of toluene.
The reaction between the compound of formula X—P(NR2R3)2 and the compound of formula R1—Y1—H preferably takes place in the presence of a base. Bases which can be employed include inorganic bases, such as sodium carbonate, and organic bases. Organic bases are preferred. Examples of organic bases include aromatic amines such as pyridine, and inorganic amines, such as alkylamines, preferably trialkylamines, such as tri(C1-4alkyl)amines, and most preferably triethylamine.
The mole ratio of compound of formula PX3 to compound of formula HNR2R3 in step a) is commonly selected to be in the range of from about 1:1 to about 10:1, and preferably from about 3:1 to about 6:1.
The mole ratio of compound of formula X—P(NR2R3)2 to compound of formula R1—Y1—H in step b) is commonly selected to be in the range of from about 1:1 to about 5:1, with mole ratios in the range of from 1:1 to 1.5:1 being especially preferred.
When a base is employed, the mole ratio of base to compound of formula X—P(NR2R3)2 is often in the range of from about 0.75:1 to 2:1, and preferably from about 1:1 to 1.3:1.
Step a) of the process according to the present invention is often carried out at a temperature in the range of from ambient temperature, such as from about 15° C. to about 30° C., up to the reflux temperature of the solvent employed, such as from about 50° C. to about 120° C.
Step b) of the process according to the present invention is often carried out at a temperature in the range of from about −25° C. to ambient temperature, such as from about 15° C. to about 30° C., such as from about −20° C. to about 0° C. Temperatures in the range of from −20° C. to −10° C. are especially preferred.
Advantageously, substantially anhydrous reaction conditions are employed.
In many embodiments the process of the present invention is carried out under an inert atmosphere, such as a nitrogen or argon atmosphere.
The product compound of formula R1—Y1—P(NR2R3)2 is advantageously separated from the reaction mixture by distillation, and especially preferably by wiped-film distillation.
A particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a process for the preparation of {[(CH3)2CH]2N}2—P—O—CH2CH2CN, which comprises
a) reacting PCl3 with [(CH3)2CH]2N—H in toluene to form {[(CH3)2CH]2N}2—P—Cl; and
b) reacting {[(CH3)2CH]2N}2—P—Cl with HO—CH2CH2CN in toluene to form {[(CH3)2CH]2N}2—P—O—CH2CH2CN.
The present invention is illustrated without limitation by the following Example.


EXAMPLE
Step a)
Diisopropylamine (383 g), toluene (1087 g) and calcium hydride (log) were charged to a nitrogen-flushed, 2 L round-bottom flask equipped with a magnetic stirrer and cold-finger distillation head attached to an N2 bubble and the mixture heated under total reflux (98° C.) for 2 hrs to remove all traces of water. The dried amine/toluene mixture was distilled into an oven-dried nitrogen-flushed, 3 L, 4-neck round-bottom flask equipped with a mechanical stirrer, a 100 mL, pressure-equalizing addition funnel, a thermowell and a condenser attached to an N2 bubbler, and allowed to cool to ambient temperature (ca. 17° C.). Phosphorus trichloride (99.999%, 100 g) was charged from the addition funnel over approximately 30 min. The temperature of the mixture was observed to rise ca. 25° C. The mixture was heated to reflux (100-110° C.) and stirred for 24 hrs; the mixture becoming quite thick with precipitated diisopropylamine hydrochloride. The mixture was cooled to ambient temperature and pressure-filtered under nitrogen to remove the amine salt, all equipment being oven-dried before use. The filter cake was washed with 217 g of toluene, and the combined filtrate and washings distilled in vacuo to remove most of the toluene, the mixture becoming a slush as solids precipitate. When no more toluene distilled, the vacuum was broken with nitrogen and the distillation vessel connected via a cold trap directly to a vacuum pump. Residual toluene was pumped out until the solid product, {[(CH3)2CH]2N}2—P—Cl, reached constant weight. This material, 96-97 area-% active by 31P NMR was used in Step b) without further purification.
Step b)
Triethylamine (49.4 g), toluene (649.5 g) and calcium hydride (5 g) were charged to a nitrogen-flushed, 1 L round-bottom flask equipped with a magnetic stirrer and cold-finger distillation head attached to an N2 bubbler and the mixture heated under total reflux (98° C.) for 2 hrs to remove all traces of water. The dried mixture was distilled into an oven-dried, nitrogen-flushed, 2 L 3-neck, jacketed round-bottom flask equipped with a mechanical stirrer, a thermowell and a 50 mL pressure-equalizing addition funnel attached to an N2 bubbler and the mixture cooled to below −15° C. using a circulating chiller pumping ethylene glycol/water through the reactor jacket and the product of step (a) (130.3 g) added. Neat 2-cyanoethanol (39.9 g) was added from the addition funnel over approximately 30 min, keeping the temperature below −10° C. The mixture was stirred under nitrogen for 18 hrs at −15 to −18° C. to complete the reaction. The mixture was warmed to ambient temperature and pressure-filtered under nitrogen to remove triethylamine hydrochloride salt, all equipment being oven-dried before use. The toluene was stripped out on a rotary evaporator (bath temperature ca. 50° C.). The vacuum was broken with nitrogen and the distillation vessel connected via a cold trap directly to a vacuum pump and residual toluene removed to yield 139.5 g of crude product. The crude product was distilled through a wiped-film evaporator (heated zone 70° C.; pressure 0.008 mmHg) over 1.5 hrs to afford 115.9 g of product.
If desired, the product can be further purified by flash chromatography, for example using pentane and dry basic alumina, and additional wiped-film distillations.

## Claims

1. A process for the preparation of a compound of formula R1—Y1—P(NR2R3)2 which comprises:
a) reacting a compound of formula PX3 with a compound of formula HNR2R3 in the presence of a solvent to form a compound of formula X—P(NR2R3)2; and
b) reacting the compound of formula X—P(NR2R3)2 with a compound of formula R1—Y1—H in the presence of a solvent to form the compound of formula R1—Y1—P(NR2R3)2; wherein
R1 represents a methyl group, a group of formula —CH2CH2—Si(CH3)2C6H5, —CH2CH2—S(O)2—CH2CH3 or —CH2CH2—C6H4—NO2, a group of formula —CH2CH2CN, or a phenyl, 4-chlorophenyl, 2-chlorophenyl, 2-nitrophenyl or 4-nitrophenyl group;
R2 and R3 each independently represent an alkyl group, or R2 and R3 are joined, together with the N to which they are attached, to form a 5-7 membered ring;
Y1 represents O or S; and
X represents a halogen;
characterised in that the solvent is employed in reaction a) and reaction b) and said solvent is a hydrocarbon solvent.

2. A process according to claim 1, wherein R1 represents a group of formula —CH2CH2CN and Y1 represents O.

3. A process according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein R2 and R3 each independently represent a C1-6 alkyl group.

4. A process according to claim 3, wherein R2 and R3 represent isopropyl groups.

5. A process according to claim 1, wherein Y1 represents O.

6. A process according to claim 1, wherein X represents Cl.

7. A process according to claim 1, wherein the hydrocarbon solvent is toluene.

8. A process according to claim 1, wherein the reaction between the compound of formula X—P(NR2R3)2 and the compound of formula R1—Y1—H in step b) takes place in the presence of a base.

9. A process according to claim 8, wherein the base is a tri(C1-4 alkyl)amine.

10. A process for the preparation of {[(CH3)2CH]2N}2—P—O—CH2CH2CN, which comprises
a) reacting PCl3 with [(CH3)2CH]2N—H in toluene to form {[(CH3)2CH]2N}2—P—Cl; and
b) reacting {[(CH3)2CH]2N}2—P—Cl with HO—CH2CH2CN in toluene to form {[(CH3)2CH]2N}2—P—O—CH2CH2CN.

11. A process according to claim 10, wherein substantially anhydrous reaction conditions are employed.

12. A process for the preparation of a compound of formula R1—Y1—P(NR2R3)2 which comprises reacting a compound of formula X—P(NR2R3)2 with a compound of formula R1—Y1—H in the presence of a solvent to form the compound of formula R1—Y1—P(NR2R3)2 wherein
R1 represents NCCH2CH2—; Y1 represents O; R2 and R3 are each isopropyl, X is chloro, and the solvent is toluene.